Loneliness At Record High, Trust in Religious Institutions At Record Low

Recent studies from the Pew Research Center^b and Springtide Research Institute show something significant happening in peoples’ spiritual lives. People are turning from religion. Millennials are raising their children without the church.  People have lost trust in religious institutions. However, even though people are walking away from religion, they aren’t necessarily abandoning spirituality. How are faith leaders going to meet this reality as they evangelize and disciple young people in their relationship with Jesus?

Springtide Research Institute has one of the largest datasets on the state of youth in America. The data undeniably points to the need for discipling leadership from adults. Springtide summarizes their enormous dataset like this:

“Young people are experiencing record loneliness. They have low levels of trust in most traditional institutions, and they are likely not responding to the efforts these institutions are making to connect with them. But they are – amid these realities – seeking meaning, navigating questions of identity, and pursuing community. And they need trusted adults to listen to, care for, and guide them.” – Springtide Research Institute, Relational Authority Report, 2021

The Strategy Must Return to Jesus

While we may not find as many young people in churches, 75% are still reporting to be religious or spiritual^a. Young people are navigating the sea of voices claiming truth and they need an accurate picture of who Jesus is more than ever. Full Spectrum Youth Ministry is a timeless approach, modeled by Jesus himself to share the Gospel and develop a mature relationship with Him. Leaders must find youth on their turf and safely and lovingly shepherd them to the truth their soul longs for.

RELATED POST: Full Spectrum Youth Ministry: The Full Picture Jesus had in Mind for Making Disciples

Here are some statistics that show the lonely state of young people today^a:

• Only 24% of young people with no adult mentors never feel like their life has meaning and purpose. Just one adult relationship reduces that percentage to 6%.
• Nearly 40% say they have no one to talk to and that no one knows them well.
• More than 1 in 4 (27%) young people say they have one or fewer adults in their lives they can turn to if they need to talk.
• Only 10% of young people say that someone from their faith community reached out to them during the pandemic.
• Even less, 8%, say they have a close relationship with a religious leader.

And here are some statistics to bring hope and show the impact that discipling leadership can have on their lives^a:

• 41% depend on a close relationship to help them find meaning and purpose in their life.
• 82% say they will trust someone who takes the time to hear what they have to say.
• 78% say that they feel listened to when people show that they understand what they’ve been through.
• 85% say that their trust in another person grows when that person takes action that responds to the young person’s needs.

Disorientation does not need to result in fear. Rather, we can take the concerning state of religion as an opportunity to restore trust and hope to a young generation.

Get Back Up

Perhaps an unacknowledged casualty of the pandemic has been the capacity for faith leaders to have a meaningful impact on young people. Adults have experienced much of the same as youth have over the last 2 years: loneliness, isolation, confusion, loss of vision and hope, hardship. It’s as though we have all been stunned in a similar way.

This is a time to call leaders back up! Leaders must lean on the wisdom gained through the experience of a mature relationship with Christ. Imagine trying to navigate these times without the wisdom and knowledge gained through life experience. Our young people need a safe place to be heard, process through questions, and be discipled!

There is a path to the heart of our young people. Leaders must find them where they are, earn trust, and creatively share the love of Jesus with them. The future depends on it.

What You Can Do Right Now

1. Spend some time praying. Who are some young people that come to mind? Check in with them right away!
2. Practice some listening skills. Engage in a conversation just to HEAR where people are at. Take notes and write anything important down so you don’t forget and can follow up later.
3. Respond to any needs with help.
4. Process some of your own journey through the pandemic. Prayerfully consider how you can be vulnerable in sharing your experience and offer hope to others.

^a https://www.springtideresearch.org

^b https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/whats-religion-us-common-reply-152400087.html